Spotfinder

ABSTRACT

A system (100) and method for finding a likely available parking spot within a geographical area are disclosed. The system (100) may be configured to receive a request for directions for a first vehicle (702) to an open parking spot within a particular geographical area (210, 214), receive sensor information indicating potential open parking spots (346, 348), identify likely available parking spots (346, 348), and receive information regarding other vehicles searching for parking in the same geographical area. The system may use the identified likely available spots and the information regarding other vehicles searching for parking when computing a route (218, 220) to a likely available parking spot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/286,933, filed on Apr. 20, 2021, which is a national phaseentry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No.PCT/US2019/031330, filed on May 8, 2019, published in English, all ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Users may use navigational systems to find a route from their currentlocation to an intended destination. The user may provide one or moreinputs regarding their route preference. For example, a user may wish toavoid toll roads or highways. In some instances a user may want toreceive the fastest route to the intended destination, and in otherinstances the user may want to receive the shortest route to thedestination. Some navigational systems are capable of utilizing currenttraffic when determining a potential route to that location.

Upon arriving at the destination, parking can often be difficult,particularly on-street parking in cities or crowded geographic areas.Having difficulty finding parking causes vehicles to spend more time onthe road network as motorists drive in circles around their intendeddestination looking for parking. This additional time on the roadnetwork adds to fuel/energy consumption in the vehicles, may increasecongestion and pollution in and around the road network, and wastes timefor the drivers and any passengers in the vehicles.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosed technology provides a system for providingdirections to one of the identified likely available parking spots. Thesystem comprises memory and one or more processors coupled to thememory. The one or more processors may be configured to receive arequest for directions to an open parking spot for a first vehiclewithin a particular geographical area. The one or more processors may befurther configured to receive sensor information indicating potentialopen parking spots, identify one or more likely available parking spots,and receive information regarding other vehicles searching for parkingwith the particular geographical area. The one or more processors mayalso be configured to compute, based on at least the identified likelyavailable parking spots and the information regarding other vehicles, aroute to one of the identified likely available parking spots.

In this aspect of the technology, the one or more processors may befurther configured to receive information pertaining to current traffic,turn costs, historical parking availability, whether a street has aparking lane, and/or parking restrictions. Turns costs may be defined bya time required to make a turn.

The computed route may be a most efficient route based on a distance toa destination, a computed time to the destination or a time to find oneof the identified likely available spots.

The one or more processors may be further configured to compute a secondroute to a second one of the identified likely available parking spotsfor a second vehicle within the particular geographical area, the secondopen parking spot being different than the first open parking spot. Theparticular geographical area may be defined by a radius from adestination specified by the first vehicle.

The available of the identified one or more likely available parkingsports may be updated automatically by the one or more processors basedon the behavior of the first vehicle or the other vehicles. The behaviorof the vehicles may comprise driving past the one or more likelyavailable parking spots without parking.

In another aspect, the technology is a method for providing directionsto a first vehicle to one of the identified likely available parkingspots. The method compromises receiving, by one or more processors, arequest for directions to an open parking spot for a first vehiclewithin a particular geographical area; receiving, by the one or moreprocessors, sensor information indicating potential open parking spots,identifying, based on the received sensor information, one or morelikely available parking spots; receiving, by the one or moreprocessors, information regarding other vehicles searching for parkingwithin the particular geographical area; and computing a route to one ofthe identified likely available parking spots.

In yet another aspect of the technology, a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processorfor performing a method of providing directions to a first vehicle toone of the identified likely available parking spots, the methodincluding receiving a request for directions to an open spot for thefirst vehicle within a particular geographical area, receiving sensorinformation indicating potential open parking spots, identifying one ormore likely available parking spots, receiving information regardingother vehicles searching for parking within the particular geographicalarea, and computing a route to one of the identified likely availableparking spots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are functional diagrams of an example system inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of a map in accordance with aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example interface in accordance with aspects ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example display on a computing device inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are example displays of a selected geographical area inaccordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are example displays of routes in accordance withaspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial diagram of a map in real time in accordance withaspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are example displays of updated routes in accordancewith aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is another pictorial diagram of a map in real time in accordancewith aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is another pictorial diagram of a map in real time in accordancewith aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

The technology relates generally to a navigational system that usessensor information to identify parking spots for users in vehiclessearching for street parking. One or more parking spots are identifiedas likely to be available based on the sensor information and the systemguides the users in the vehicles to an identified likely availableparking spot along a most efficient route. For example, in identifying aspecific parking bay or other parking space which is likely to beavailable, and providing an efficient route along which the vehicle willtravel to arrive at the bay, the system may reduce the amount of timethe vehicle spends on the road network whilst parking. The system mayadditionally (or alternatively) reduce the distance the vehicle travelswhilst parking. Both of these reductions may in turn reduce the amountof fuel or electrical drive power used by the vehicle whilst parking ina particular geographical area. Additionally, local congestion levels onthe road network may be significantly reduced, particularly when thesystem is used to navigate multiple vehicles in the same geographicalarea simultaneously or over approximately the same period of time. Inuse, the system may identify a specific geographical area and evaluatepotential routes a user in a vehicle may take when attempting to findstreet parking in that geographical area. The system may also take intoaccount a variety of other factors, including but not limited to: (1)real-time information, including requests from users in vehicles who areconcurrently using the same system and looking for parking in the samegeographical area; (2) historical parking availability; (3) informationrelayed from sensors on cars and/or other vehicles in the area regardingthe availability of parking spots; (4) traffic and turn costs innavigating the route; (5) whether a street has a parking lane; and/or(6) parking restrictions.

When determining potential routes, the system may take into accountreal-time information. For example, the system may consider the currenttraffic between the starting destination of the vehicle/user and theuser's intended destination. Further, the system may consider whetherother users, who may be in other vehicles, are using the systemconcurrently to find an open parking spot in the same geographical area.The geographical area may be defined by a radius stemming from theuser's ultimate destination, which may be user-selected, e.g., via asoftware application. Thus, when more than one user is looking foron-street parking at or near the same intended destination during thesame time period, the system may provide a different route, each ofwhich may have a different final destination parking spot, for each usersuch that the multiple users and their individual vehicles are notdirected to the same parking spot.

In some instances, when determining potential routes, the system maytake into account historical parking availability. For example, thesystem may include a database that stores historical parkingavailability. Historical parking availability may include, for example,information about what time spots have been typically been known to beavailable on specific days.

Further, the system may include one or more processors configured toreceive information collected by sensors or a perception system onvehicles driving. For example, cars and/or other vehicles may includesensors on their exterior that are able to detect whether a parking spotis occupied or if it is available. The sensors may include ultrasonicsensors, infrared sensors, electromagnetic sensors, cameras, or any of avariety of other types of sensors which may identify, for example, thepresence and/or absence of a vehicle in a parking spot. This informationmay be obtained, for example, for a large number of potential (e.g.known) parking spots by sensing each potential spot and identifyingwhether or not the spot is currently empty as the vehicle moves aroundthe road network. The information collected by the sensors may, forexample, be transmitted to a server at a central location. The servermay then process the information and update the system in real time, sothat the information is shared with all vehicles/users using the systemto park. The vehicle(s) which obtain information regarding availablespots need not themselves be being used to search for parking. They mayinstead be any vehicle which is configured to obtain the information andshare it with the system.

Moreover, when determining potential routes, the system may take intoaccount the time it will take to execute that route due to, for example,traffic or the time it takes to make turns. Therefore, each route, whentaking into account the time it takes to execute, may have a differentprobability that the user will find an open parking spot. If theexecution time (e.g. duration of travel time) for moving to a particularspot along a particular route is relatively longer, the probabilityassigned to the route may be correspondingly lower. On the other handthe execution time is relatively shorter, the route probability may becorrespondingly higher. The system may also take into accountinformation pertaining to whether a particular street has a parking laneand/or relevant parking restrictions that would hinder a user's abilityto park in that location. For example, by knowing whether or not astreet has a parking lane, the system may automatically include orexclude that street when determining potential routes. Further, byincluding details about the user's parking requirements, such as whetherthey wish to park overnight, the system will be able to include orexclude spots, based on the requirements, by taking into account generalavailability and accessibility information for the spots in question.

The system may score each potential route based on maximizing efficiencyof searching for a parking spot and the likelihood of an availableparking spot. The route with the best score may be sent to the user.Finding a spot becomes even more efficient, for example in the mannersmentioned above, as more factors are included when calculating a routefor the user and their vehicle. Moreover, this system may be used notonly for finding street parking but it may also be used for findingparking in a parking lot or a parking garage using the same factors.

Example Systems

FIG. 1A illustrates an example system 100 in which the featuresdescribed above may be implemented. It should not be considered limitingthe scope of the disclosure or usefulness of the features describedherein. In this example, system 100 may include a plurality of computingdevices 102, 104, 106, vehicles 112, 114, and 116, server computingdevice 130, storage system 140, and network 120.

Each of computing devices 102, 104, 106 may include one or moreprocessors 132, 134, 136, memory 142, 144, 146, data 162, 164, 166 andinstructions 152, 154, 156. Each of computing devices 102, 104, 106 mayalso a display 172, 174, 176 and user input 182, 184, 186.

Memory 142, 144, 146 of computing devices 102, 104, 106 may storeinformation that is accessible by processor 132, 134, 136. Memory 142,144, 146 may also include data that can be retrieved, manipulated orstored by the processor 132, 134, 136. The memory 142, 144, 146 may beof any non-transitory type capable of storing information accessible bythe processor 132, 134, 136, including a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium, or other medium that stores data that may beread with the aid of an electronic device, such as a hard-drive, memorycard, read-only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), opticaldisks, as well as other write-capable and read-only memories. Memory142, 144, 146 may store information that is accessible by the processors132, 134, 136, including instructions 152, 154, 156 that may be executedby processors 132, 134, 136, and data 162, 164, 166.

Data 162, 164, 166 may be retrieved, stored or modified by processors132, 134, 136 in accordance with instructions 152, 154, 156. Forinstance, although the present disclosure is not limited by a particulardata structure, the data 162, 164, 166 may be stored in computerregisters, in a relational database as a table having a plurality ofdifferent fields and records, XML documents, or flat files. The data162, 164, 166 may also be formatted in a computer-readable format suchas, but not limited to, binary values, ASCII or Unicode. By further wayof example only, the data 162, 164, 166 may comprise informationsufficient to identify the relevant information, such as numbers,descriptive text, proprietary codes, pointers, references to data storedin other memories (including other network locations) or informationthat is used by a function to calculate the relevant data.

The instructions 152, 154, 156 can be any set of instructions to beexecuted directly, such as machine code, or indirectly, such as scripts,by the processor 132, 134, 136. In that regard, the terms“instructions,” “application,” “steps,” and “programs” can be usedinterchangeably herein. The instructions can be stored in object codeformat for direct processing by the processor, or in any other computingdevice language including scripts or collections of independent sourcecode modules that are interpreted on demand or compiled in advance.Functions, methods and routines of the instructions are explained inmore detail below.

The one or more processors 132, 134, 136 may include any conventionalprocessors, such as a commercially available CPU or microprocessor.Alternatively, the processor can be a dedicated component such as anASIC or other hardware-based processor. Although not necessary,computing devices 102, 104, 106 may include specialized hardwarecomponents to perform specific computing functions faster or moreefficiently.

Although FIG. 1A functionally illustrates the processor, memory, andother elements of computing devices 102, 104, 106 as being within thesame respective blocks, it will be understood by those of ordinary skillin the art that the processor or memory may actually include multipleprocessors or memories that may or may not be stored within the samephysical housing. Similarly, the memory may be a hard drive or otherstorage media located in a housing different from that of the computingdevices 102, 104, 106. Accordingly, references to a processor orcomputing device will be understood to include references to acollection of processors or computing devices or memories that may ormay not operate in parallel.

Display 172, 174, 176 and other displays described herein may be anytype of display, such as a monitor having a screen, a touch-screen, aprojector, or a television. The display 172, 174, 176 of the one or morecomputing devices 102, 104, 106 may electronically display informationto a user via a graphical user interface (“GUI”) or other types of userinterfaces. For example, as will be discussed below, display 172, 174,176 may electronically display a map interface with turn-by-turndirections between two geographic locations, corresponding roadsegments, and waypoints to maximize the overall probability of findingan open parking spot when searching in a predefined area surrounding thefinal geographic location.

The user inputs 182, 184, 186 may be a mouse, keyboard, touch-screen,microphone, or any other type of input.

The computing devices 102, 104, 106 can be at various nodes of a network120 and capable of directly and indirectly communicating with othernodes of network 120. Although three (3) computing devices are depictedin FIG. 1 , it should be appreciated that a typical system can includeone or more computing devices, with each computing device being at adifferent node of network 120. The network 120 and intervening nodesdescribed herein can be interconnected using various protocols andsystems, such that the network can be part of the Internet, World WideWeb, specific intranets, wide area networks, or local networks. Thenetwork 120 can utilize standard communications protocols, such as WiFi,that are proprietary to one or more companies. Although certainadvantages are obtained when information is transmitted or received asnoted above, other aspects of the subject matter described herein arenot limited to any particular manner of transmission.

In one example, system 100 may include one or more server computingdevices having a plurality of computing devices, e.g., a load balancedserver farm, that exchange information with different nodes of a networkfor the purpose of receiving, processing and transmitting the data toand from other computing devices. For instance, one or more servercomputing devices 130 may be a web server that is capable ofcommunicating with the one or more client computing devices 102, 104,106 via the network 120. In addition, server computing device 130 mayuse network 120 to transmit and present information to a user of one ofthe other computing devices 102, 104, 106 or a passenger of a vehicle.In this regard, vehicles 112, 114, 116 may be considered clientcomputing devices. Server computing device 130 may include one or moreprocessors, memory, instructions, and data. These components operate inthe same or similar fashion as those described above with respect tocomputing devices 102, 104, 106.

As shown in FIG. 1B, each computing device 102, 104, 106 may be apersonal computing device intended for use by a respective user 122,124, 126, and have all of the components normally used in connectionwith a personal computing device including a one or more processors(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), memory (e.g., RAM and internalhard drives) storing data and instructions, a display (e.g., a monitorhaving a screen, a touch-screen, a projector, a television, or otherdevice such as a smart watch display that is operable to displayinformation), and user input devices (e.g., a mouse, keyboard,touchscreen or microphone). The client computing devices may alsoinclude a camera for recording video streams, speakers, a networkinterface device, and all of the components used for connecting theseelements to one another. Computing devices 102, 104, 106 may be capableof wirelessly exchanging and/or obtaining data over the network 120.

Although the client computing devices may each comprise a full-sizedpersonal computing device, they may alternatively comprise mobilecomputing devices capable of wirelessly exchanging data with a serverover a network such as the Internet. By way of example only, clientcomputing devices 102, 104, and 106 may be mobile phones or devices suchas a wireless-enabled PDA, a tablet PC, a wearable computing device(e.g., a smartwatch), or a netbook that is capable of obtaininginformation via the Internet or other networks.

Users 122, 124, 124 may operate a respective vehicle 112, 114, 116 inusing the system to find parking for said vehicle 112, 114, 116.Vehicles 112, 114, 116 may include a perception system (not shown). Theperception system may include one or more components for detecting andperforming analysis on objects external to the vehicle such as othervehicles, obstacles in the roadway, traffic signals, signs, trees, etc.For example, the perception system may include lasers, sonar, radar, oneor more cameras, or any other detection devices which record data whichmay be processed by a computing device (not shown) within vehicles 112,114, 116. In the case where the vehicle is a small passenger vehiclesuch as a car, the car may include a laser mounted on the roof or otherconvenient locations as well as other sensors such as cameras, radars,sonars, and additional lasers (not shown).

While the vehicle is in motion, the perception system may determine thatone or more parking spots are available and/or taken using their one ormore sensors. The perception system may send this information to servercomputing device 130 to update system 100 with what parking spots are orare not available. In some instances, the system 100 may update in realtime based on the information collected by the perception system. Forexample, the system may update the availability of parking spots basedon the behavior of the vehicles. The behavior of the vehicle may bedriving past parking spaces without parking. In other instances, thesystem 100 may update on a set schedule, such that the informationcollected by the perception system becomes part of the historicalparking availability database

Storage system 140 may store various types of information. For instance,the storage system 140 may store historical parking availability,location of parking lanes, parking rules and restrictions, etc. Forexample, historical parking availability may include informationcollected by the perception system, as described above. In someinstances, system 100 may collect data based on the location a userparked and what time they parked. Alternatively, system 100 may collectdata based upon the system detecting that the vehicle did not park in acertain location. The information collected by system 100 may becomepart of the historical parking availability.

The storage system 140 may store map data. This map data may include,for instance, locations of driving lanes, parking lanes, designatedparking areas, no parking zones, drop off locations, etc. Map data mayalso include locations, road names, road configurations, etc. In someinstances, the storage system 140 may store parking rules andregulations, such as alternative side of the street parking, permitparking, overnight parking restrictions, etc.

The storage system 140 may also store log data. This log data mayinclude, for instance, sensor data generated by a perception systemindicating available parking spots, such as the perception systems ofvehicles 112, 114, 116. Storage system 140 may further store informationassociated with the parking spots, such as location, street, size,regulations, etc. This information may be retrieved or otherwiseaccessed by a server computing device, such as one or more servercomputing devices 130, in order to perform some or all of the featuresdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 is an example of detailed map data 300 for a city block. In thisexample, the detailed map data includes a plurality of differentfeatures that identify the location of various features such as drivinglanes 310, 312, 314, 316, parking lane 320, building 330, on-streetparking spots 342, 344, 346, 348, a driveway entrance (for example to aparking garage or other location) 350, and no parking zones 352, 354,356.

The detailed map data may also include information identifying areasthat are predesignated as parking areas. For example, the areascorresponding to on street parking spots 342, 344, 346, 348 or parkingspots within parking lane 320 may each be stored in system storage 140as a predesignated parking area. Some areas may also be predesignated asareas which may be suitable for brief short term stops to wait or dropoff a passenger such as the area in front of driveway 350. Similarly,other areas, such as no parking zones 352, 354, 356 may be stored insystem storage 140 as a no parking zone. This pre-designation may beperformed manually by human review, automatically based on thecharacteristics of areas (for example, whether there are parking linesdefining a parking space or diagonal lines representing a no parkingzone, whether an area is sufficiently large for a vehicle of aparticular size), machine learning, or a combination of these.

The map data 300 may be used when computing a route. For example,knowing driving lane 314 has an adjacent parking lane 320 may increasethe probability of finding an available parking spot on a routeincluding driving lane 314. In some instances, the system may use themap data 300 to calculate turn costs by considering whether there is astop light or stop sign at an intersection. The map data 300 may bedisplayed on an interface of the client computing device.

FIG. 3 is an example interface on the client computing device 102 foruser interaction with the system 100 that may be stored in storagesystem 140. For example, display 272 may show one or more input fields209 and map 208. The input fields 209 may be, for example, drop downmenus, radio buttons, free text, etc. Input fields 209 may be used toindicate, by way of example only, destination 204, parking preferences206, or other parameters. For example, a user may input a desireddestination 204, such as an address, business name, landmark, geographiccoordinates, etc. The map 208 may, in response to a selecteddestination, display the selected destination. In other examples, theuser may point to a spot on the map 208 to indicate the desireddestination, and the destination field 204 may be updated accordingly.The user may further input parking preferences 206, such as a maximumdistance from the desired destination, an expected duration of parking,a preference for free or paid parking, or any of a variety of otherpreferences.

Example Methods

In addition to the operations described above and illustrated in thefigures, various operations will now be described. It should beunderstood that the following operations do not have to be performed inthe precise order described below. Rather, various steps can be handledin a different order or simultaneously, and steps may also be added oromitted.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , computing device 102 is being shown as beingused in conjunction with system 100. The system may receive a requestfor directions to an open parking spot within a particular geographicalarea. For example, a user may enter information into input fields 209.The user may enter, for example, an intended destination 212 into thedestination field 204. The user may also input parking preferences, suchas duration, the number of blocks away from the destination, thedistance from the destination, the car size, free or paid parking, etc.,into the preferences field 206. The number of blocks away from thedestination may, for example, set a maximum distance, measured inblocks, away from the final destination that a user may park. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 5A, a distance from the destination 212 maybe, which may create a maximum radius from the final or intendeddestination 212 that a user may wish to park. For example, the distancemay be a half-mile (½ mile). Thus, the system may create a search area210 around destination 212 that has a radius of half-mile. The systemmay search for, find, and/or display a navigational route that maximizesthe overall probability of finding an open parking spot while minimizingthe amount of time to find a parking spot within that half-mile radiussurrounding destination 212.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5B, a number of blocks away fromdestination 212 may be set. For example, the number of blocks away fromthe destination 212 may be set to two (2) blocks. The system may createa search area 214 around destination 212. The system may search for,find, and/or display a navigational route that maximizes the overallprobability of finding an open parking spot while minimizing the amountof time to find a parking spot within that two (2) block radiussurrounding destination 212.

A parking duration, for example, may ensure compliance with parkingrestrictions and regulations. For example, if parking overnight, byselecting the appropriate duration for parking, the system may provide aroute to a likely available parking spot that allows for overnightparking. In some examples, the system filters out candidate parkingspots that do not allow for overnight parking. In another example,parking may only be necessary for five (5) hours. The system may removefrom the list of potential routes a route that would lead the user to alocation for two (2) hour parking.

In some instances, parking spaces may be designated for compact cars. Ifinput to the parking preference field 206 specifies a larger vehicle,such as a full-size pickup truck, routes to designated compact spacesmay be omitted by the system. Thus, the system may not provide a routethat is designated for a compact car or a motorcycle as a larger vehiclewill not fit. In other instances, a user may prefer to only park whereit is free, instead of paid. By selecting whether free or paid parkingis preferred under parking preferences 206, the system may remove fromthe results a route that would lead the user to an open spot in whichthey would have to pay for parking.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate potential routes to likely parking spacescomputed by the system. Route 218, as shown in FIG. 6A, may be a shorterdistance of traveling as compared to route 220, as shown in FIG. 6B.However, route 218 may include three (3) left turns between currentlocation 216 and destination 212. Alternatively, route 220 may includeone (1) left turn and two (2) right turns. The system may have data thatindicates left turns have a higher turn cost than right turns. Turncosts may include, for example, the time it takes to make a turn. Insome instances, when considering turn costs, amongst any of the otherfactors, route 218 may not have the maximum efficiency, for example inany of the way mentioned above, for reaching destination 212 as comparedto route 220. Thus, the system may suggest route 220 because it haslower turn costs.

For example, the system may take into account real-time information,such as traffic patterns, speed limits, traffic lights, etc. In someinstances, the system may consider the current traffic between thestarting destination 216 and the intended destination 212. The systemmay consider historical data pertaining to traffic. For example, thesystem may have historical data indicating that between the hours of4:00 pm and 6:00 pm, certain roads have heavy or stand-still traffic. Insome instances, the system may consider that some roads have moretraffic lights or stop signs than others. The system may consider thetime it may take to go through the traffic light or stop sign. Accordingto some examples, the system may suggest route 218 because it does notgo directly past destination 212, which is known to have increasedtraffic nearby.

The system may consider whether other users are using the systemconcurrently to find an open spot in the same geographical area. Thegeographical area may be defined by a distance 210 or number of blocks214 stemming from the user's ultimate destination 216. Thus, when morethan one user is looking for on-street parking at or near the sameintended destination 212 during the same time period, the system mayprovide a different route for each user such that the multiple users arenot directed to the same street where there is likely to be open parkingspots. In some instances, the system may suggest route 218 to a firstuser and route 220 to a second user, such that the first and secondusers are directed to the same likely available parking spot.

In another example, if person “A” wishes to park near the “coffee shop”and is scheduled to arrive around 8:30 am and person “B” also wishes topark near the coffee shop and is also scheduled to arrive around 8:30am, the system may direct person A to one side street to find parkingand person B to a second side street to find parking. Thus, the systemmay provide an efficient route to both persons A and B, with differentend destinations, such that they find parking at or near the samelocation around the same time using the same application, withoutpersons A and B attempting to obtain the same parking spot. This mayavoid at least one of the two persons and their associated vehiclespending additional time driving around the road network searching for aparking spot, having been unable to park in the initial spot. Theseexamples may be particularly effective at reducing congestion and/or airpollution on the local road network, in addition to providing efficientparking routes for the two vehicles individually.

In some instances, when determining potential routes 218, 220, thesystem may take into account historical parking availability. Forexample, the system may include a database that stores historicalparking availability. Historical parking availability may include, forexample, information about what time spots have been typically beenknown to be available on specific days. According to one example, a spotmay historically be available between 10:00 am and 10:15 amMonday-Thursday in front of a coffee shop but on Friday-Sunday that samespot is typically not available during that same time slot.

Further, the system may receive information collected by sensors onvehicles driving. For example, vehicles 112, 114, 116 may include aperception system or sensors on their exterior that are able to detectwhether a parking spot 342, 344, 348, 348 is occupied or if it isavailable. The sensors may include ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors,electromagnetic sensors, cameras, or any of a variety of other types ofsensors. The information collected by the sensors may, for example, betransmitted to server computing devices 130 at a central location. Theserver computing 130 may then process the information and update thesystem in real time. As one example, the system may determine that auser looking for a parking space drove down a street having a spotindicated by the sensors to be available, but the user did not park inthe identified spot. In this example, the system may infer that theidentified spot is no longer available, such as if another vehicleparked in the spot in the interim. Thus, the system may use the mostup-to-date status information pertaining to the availability ofon-street parking. In some instances, the system may update on aschedule. For example, the system may be updated nightly to receive theinformation collected by the sensors. This information may, for example,be stored in the memory of the system as information related tohistorical parking availability.

In another example, the system may receive information by users 122,124, 126 currently using the system. For example, if user 122 drivesdown a first street with the intention of parking but does not park, thesystem may re-route or redirect user 124 to a second street, differentfrom the first, if user 124 was also looking for parking in that samegeographical area. Thus, the system may recognize and update in realtime that there was no parking on that first street.

In yet another example, when determining potential routes 218, 220, thesystem may take into account the time it will take to execute that routedue to, for example, traffic or the time it takes to make turns.Therefore, each route 218, 220, when taking into account the time ittakes to execute, may have a different probability that the user 122,124, 126 will find an open parking spot. The system may also take intoaccount information pertaining to whether a particular street has aparking lane 320 and/or relevant parking restrictions that would hindera user's ability to park in that location. For example, by knowingwhether or not a street has a parking lane 320, the system mayautomatically include or exclude that street when determining potentialroutes. Further, by including details about the user's parkingrequirements, such as whether they wish to park overnight, the systemwill be able to include or exclude spots based on the requirements.

Each potential route 218, 220 may be assigned a score, based on one ormore of the factors listed above. For example, the score may be based onefficiency, including turn costs and traffic, as well as the probabilityof a likely available spot. The turn costs may, for example, account fora first proportion of the total score, such as a maximum turn cost scoreof twenty-five percent (25%) of the total score. Thus, for a country orstate in which vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road, ifthere are more left turns, i.e. turns which require the vehicle to turnacross oncoming traffic, the percentage of the score for turn costs maydecrease. For example, route 218 has three (3) left turns; the score forturn costs of route 218 may be twelve percent (12%), i.e. 12/25. Route220, for example, only has one (1) left turn; the score for turn costsof route 220 may be higher at e.g. twenty percent (20%), i.e. 20/25.Traffic, both in real-time and historic, may, for example, account for asecond proportion of the total score, such as a maximum traffic score offifty percent (50%) of the total score. Thus, in instances where thereis more traffic, in real time and/or based on historic information, thepercentage of the score for traffic may decrease. For example, route 220drives past destination 212, which may have historically increasedtraffic; the traffic score for route 220 may be thirty percent (30%),i.e. 30/50. Route 218 may have less traffic in real time andhistorically; the traffic score for route 220 may be higher at e.g.forty percent (40%), i.e. 40/50. The probability of a likely availableparking spot may, for example, account for a third proportion of thetotal score. This may be the remainder of the available maximum score,such as a maximum ‘likely availability’ score of twenty-five percent(25%) of the total score. The probability of a likely available parkingspot may be based on both historical parking information and real-timeinformation that may be received from the system and/or perceptionsystems. Thus, in instances where probability of a likely availableparking spot is low, the percentage of the score for likely availableparking may decrease. For example, route 218 may only consist of roadswith on-street parking spots, and no parking lanes; the score for likelyavailable parking for route 218 may be fifteen percent (15%), i.e.15/25. Route 220 may include roads with both on-street parking spots andparking lanes; the score for likely available parking for route 220 maybe higher at e.g. twenty-two percent (22%), i.e. 22/25. The above isjust an example and it should be understood that alternativecomputations are possible. Moreover, more or less factors may beincluded in assigning a score to a route.

The route 218, 220 with the best, or highest, score may be sent to theuser 122, 124, 126. Finding a spot becomes even more efficient as morefactors are included when calculating a route 218, 220 for the user 122,124, 126 to follow in their vehicle. Moreover, this system may be usednot only for finding street parking but it may also be used for findingparking in a parking lot or a parking garage using the same factors.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate one example of a user using the system to maximizethe probability of finding an open parking spot within a certain radius210 or number of blocks 214 away from destination 212. Referring to FIG.7 , vehicle 702 may be routed to driving lane 310 as there is known onstreet parking, parking spots 342, 344. However, system 100 mayrecognize that vehicle 702 did not park in either spot. Thus, system 100may update, in real-time, to provide an alternative route for vehicle702 to find parking within radius 210 or number of blocks 214 away fromdestination 212.

The system 100 may, when calculating an alternative route, receiveinformation from vehicle 704. For example, vehicle 704 may be driving indriving lane 314. Vehicle 704 may have a perception system or sensorsthat detect that parking spots 346, 348 are currently available. Uponreceiving this information, system 100 may calculate a route thatdirects vehicle 702 to those likely available spots.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate new potential routes 818, 820 that may becalculated by system 100. The system 100 may take into account trafficand turn costs when computing a potential route. Thus, system 100 mayrecognize that there are three (3) cars currently stopped in drivinglane 312. System 100 may, in some instances, determine that route 820may not be as efficient as route 818 due to traffic and turn costs.System 100 may provide route 818 to the user within vehicle 702 as beingthe most efficient route that also provides the maximum possibility offinding an open parking spot.

Vehicle 702 may then follow route 818, as seen in FIGS. 9-10 . Referringto FIG. 9 , vehicle 702 may drive in driving lane 720. A differentvehicle may park in parking spot 346, one of the parking spots thatvehicle 702 was directed to. Vehicle 702 may continue to travel indriving lane 722 and may park in parking spot 348, as shown in FIG. 10 .

In some instances, not shown, if vehicle 702 did park in parking spot348, system 100 may receive that information and update, in real-time,to provide another route to maximize the efficiency of the user ofvehicle 702 in finding a likely available parking spot. For example,maximizing the efficiency of the user may include finding a mostefficient route. A most efficient route, for example, may be a routethat takes the shortest amount of time to reach the destination and/oravailable parking. In some instances, the most efficient route may bethe route that has the shortest distance between the starting locationand the intended destination. The most efficient route may, for example,include the time it may take to find a parking spot. The most efficientroute may be a combination of elements, such as those listed above, orothers.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sequence of steps that may occur within system1100. For example, in block 1110 the system may receive a request form afirst user for direction to an intended location. The system may receiveinformation regarding the user's parking preferences. For example, suchinput may include a maximum distance away from the intended destinationthat they are willing to park, whether they want free parking or paidparking, the intended duration of parking, etc. Parking preferences mayalso be received, such as before, simultaneously, or after receiving therequest for directions. For example, a request for directions may bereceived by receiving an input with an intended destination and thenparking preferences. Alternatively, the system may receive an inputincluding parking preferences and save those preferences as presetpreferences. Thus, the system may only receive an input for the intendeddestination. In yet another example, the system may receive and inputthe intended destination and the parking preferences at the same time.

The system, in block 1120, may then receive sensor information. Vehiclesdriving on the road may include sensors and/or a perception system thatcollects information pertaining to the availability of spots. As avehicle with sensors drives, the sensors may collect informationpertaining to the available of parking spots. For example, the sensorsmay detect whether a parking spot is taken or is available. Theinformation collected by the sensors may be sent to the server computingdevices to update the system. Thus, the system may, in real-time, knowwhat spots are available and what spots are unavailable to use incalculating an efficient route having the highest probability of findingan available parking spot. The system may also receive information fromother users utilizing the system. For example, if second user is alsosearching for parking within the same geographical area but does notpark on a certain street, the system may receive that information. Thesystem may determine that it would not be efficient to send the firstuser down that same street the second user just drove down as there isnot a high probability of finding parking.

In block 1130 the system may identify likely available parking spots.The system may utilize the received sensor information when identifyinglikely available parking spots. The system may use, at the same time orin the alternative, historical parking information, information receivedfrom other users currently utilizing the system, various parkingrestrictions, etc.

Once the system identifies likely available parking spots, in block1140, the system may determine a number of other users requestingdirections. For example, the system may determine how many users aresearching for parking in the same radius or number of blocks. In someinstances, the system may utilize this information in calculating aroute such that each user is sent a different route or directed to adifferent street in order to have the highest probability of each userfinding street parking.

The system may, in block 1150, compute an efficient route to a likelyavailable parking spot. The system may compute an efficient route basedon at least the identified likely available parking spots and the numberof other users within the particular geographical area that have alsorequested directions to open parking spots. For example, each potentialroute may be assigned a score based on any number of factors chosen bythe system and/or the user. The route with the best score, for example,the route with the maximum efficiency and highest probability of findinga likely open parking spot may then be provided to the user. Forexample, in block 1160, the system may provide directions to the likelyavailable parking spot.

The system may be capable of reducing the amount of fuel/alternativepropulsion power used by the vehicle during parking. For example, bycomputing a more efficient route with a higher probability of finding alikely available parking spot, less driving may be necessary. Lessdriving may reduce the amount of fuel and/or alternative propulsionpower used by the vehicle in driving to the destination and finding aparking spot. It may also reduce air pollution caused by the vehicle.

Unless otherwise stated, the foregoing alternative examples are notmutually exclusive, but may be implemented in various combinations toachieve unique advantages. As these and other variations andcombinations of the features discussed above can be utilized withoutdeparting from the subject matter defined by the claims, the foregoingdescription of the embodiments should be taken by way of illustrationrather than by way of limitation of the subject matter defined by theclaims. In addition, the provision of the examples described herein, aswell as clauses phrased as “such as,” “including” and the like, shouldnot be interpreted as limiting the subject matter of the claims to thespecific examples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate onlyone of many possible embodiments. Further, the same reference numbers indifferent drawings can identify the same or similar elements.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a memory; one or moreprocessors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors beingconfigured to: receive a request for directions to an open parking spotfor a first vehicle within a particular geographical area; receivesensor information detected from one or more sensors, the sensorinformation indicating potential open parking spots; identify, based onthe received sensor information, one or more likely available parkingspots; receive information pertaining to turn costs, wherein the turncosts are defined by a time required for a vehicle to make a turn, thetime including a period of time to travel through a stop light or stopsign at an intersection; compute, based on at least the identifiedlikely available parking spots and the information pertaining to turncosts, a route to one of the identified likely available parking spots;and provide directions for the first vehicle to the one of theidentified likely available parking spots.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the particular geographical area is defined by a radius from adestination specified by the first vehicle.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receiveinformation pertaining to current traffic.
 4. The system of claim 3,computing the route to one of the identified likely available parkingspots is further based on the information pertaining to current traffic.5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to receive information pertaining to at least one of (i)historical parking availability, (ii) whether a street has parking lane,or (iii) parking restrictions.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein theroute is a most efficient route based on at least one of (i) a distanceto a destination, (ii) a computed time to the destination, or (iii) atime to find one of the identified likely available spots.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured tocompute, based on at least the identified likely available parking spotsand the information regarding other vehicles, a second route to a secondone of the identified likely available parking spots for a secondvehicle within the particular geographical area, the second open parkingspot for the second vehicle being different than the first open parkingspot for the first vehicle.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one ormore processors are further configured to automatically update anavailability of the identified one or more likely available parkingspots based on behavior of the first vehicle or the other vehicles. 9.The system of claim 8, wherein the behavior of the first vehicle or theother vehicles comprises driving past the one or more likely availableparking spots without parking.
 10. A method, comprising: receiving, byone or more processors, a request for directions to an open parking spotfor a first vehicle within a particular geographical area; receiving, bythe one or more processors, sensor information detected from one or moresensors, the sensor information indicating potential open parking spots;identifying, by the one or more processors and based on the receivedsensor information, one or more likely available parking spots;receiving, by the one or more processors, information pertaining to turncosts, wherein the turn costs are defined by a time required for avehicle to make a turn, the time including a period of time to travelthrough a stop light or stop sign at an intersection; computing, by theone or more processors and based on at least the identified likelyavailable parking spots and the information pertaining to turn costs, aroute to one of the identified likely available parking spots; andproviding, by the one or more processors, directions to the firstvehicle to the one of the identified likely available parking spots. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein the particular geographical area isdefined by a radius from a destination specified by the first vehicle.12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving, by the one ormore processors, information pertaining to current traffic.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising receiving, by the one or moreprocessors, information pertaining to at least one of (i) historicalparking availability, (ii) whether a street has parking lane, or (iii)parking restriction.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the route is amost efficient route based on at least one of (i) a distance to adestination, (ii) a computed time to the destination, or (iii) a time tofind one of the identified likely available spots.
 15. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising computing, by the one or more processors,based on at least the identified likely available parking spots and theinformation regarding other vehicles, a second most efficient route to asecond one of the identified likely available parking spots for a secondvehicle within the particular geographical area, the second open parkingspot for the second vehicle being different than the first open parkingspot for the first vehicle.
 16. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising automatically updating, by the one or more processors, anavailability of the identified one or more likely available parkingspots based on behavior of the first vehicle or the other vehicles. 17.The method of claim 16, wherein the behavior of the first vehicle or theother vehicles comprises driving past the one or more likely availableparking spots without parking.
 18. A non-transitory computer readablestorage medium storing instructions executable by a processor forperforming a method comprising: receiving a request for directions to anopen parking spot for a first vehicle within a particular geographicalarea; receiving sensor information detected from one or more sensors,the sensor information indicating potential open parking spots;identifying, and based on the received sensor information, one or morelikely available parking spots; receiving information pertaining to turncosts, wherein the turn costs are defined by a time required for avehicle to make a turn, the time including a period of time to travelthrough a stop light or stop sign at an intersection; computing, basedon at least the identified likely available parking spots and theinformation pertaining to turn costs a route to one of the identifiedlikely available parking spots; and providing directions to the firstvehicle to the one of the identified likely available parking spots. 19.The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, themethod further comprising computing, by the one or more processors,based on at least the identified likely available parking spots and theinformation regarding other vehicles, a second most efficient route to asecond one of the identified likely available parking spots for a secondvehicle within the particular geographical area, the second open parkingspot for the second vehicle being different than the first open parkingspot for the first vehicle.
 20. The non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of claim 18, the method further comprising updatingautomatically, by the one or more processors, an availability of theidentified one or more likely available parking spots based on behaviorof the first vehicle or the other vehicles.